Middle Tennessee suffered a 37-17 defeat against Liberty, despite an early touchdown from Nicholas Vattiato, as Liberty's 20-point second quarter proved crucial. Vattiato ended the game with 263 passing yards and two touchdowns, yet the Blue Raiders' defense struggled to recover from their first-half deficit. Meanwhile, Tennessee secured an 8-1 record with a 33-14 victory over Mississippi State, capitalizing on a strong first-half showing before the Bulldogs faltered offensively. After starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game due to injury, Dylan Sampson stepped up, leading the Volunteers in the second half. Mississippi State's offensive inefficiency continued, with quarterback Michael Van Buren completing only 10 of 26 passes and struggling against Tennessee's top defense. As the season progresses, both teams aim to improve their standings, with Tennessee looking to maintain momentum before facing Georgia next week.